'Beast mode' on

Bayo Akinfenwa will be turning on his full ‘Beast mode’ for a different kind of challenge later this month at the Paul Strank Roofing Charity Gala – and you can see it happen.

Just hours after Wimbledon’s home match against Morecambe on Saturday, 20 September, Bayo will attempt to bench press the club’s Commercial Director Ivor Heller.

if you missed our previous announcement on this.Charity AuctionIt’s a challenge that gained publicity in the Sun newspaper (picture above by Alan Walter) at the weekend and you can witness all the fun for yourself by entering an auction for the sold-out event. Click on

Bench-pressing is a test of upper body strength where you lie on your back and lift a heavy-laden metal bar vertically above the shoulders.

Bayo, who is listed on the FIFA 14 video game as the strongest footballer on the planet, regularly lifts big weights and lifting 5 ft tall Ivor is a challenge he’s relishing.

“It all started out as a joke at the Meet the Manager event in the summer and some cheeky kids challenge me to do it,” said Bayo. “I guess they all know me from the FIFA game. Ivor came up to me later and said ‘Let’s do it’. It should be fun and it’s all in a great cause. I’m one of those people who does think that life is too serious too often. Helping kids while having a laugh is right up my street.”